Method of shaping sheet material



- June 14, 1938. E. 1'. FERNGREN I METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Filed m, 51,- 19:53 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOH;

mum:

June 14, 1938. E. T. FERNGR EN 2,120,323

' METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 51, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet s I .F INVENTOR June 14, 1938. E. T. FERNGREN 2,120,328

METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. :51, 19:53 10 sheets-sneak 4 FIG.

INYENTGR June 14,1938. E. T. FERNGREN 4 2,120,328

\ METHOD OF SHAPING SHEiET MATERIAL Filed Jan. 31, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 E. T. FERNGREN METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL June 14, 1938.

Filed Jan 51', 1953 IOSheelis-Sheet a" June 14', 1938. E. 1 FERNGREN METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Fil ed Jan. 31, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 mg. c E. Q. 00 t 7 mm? mm b0 mm c Q0 W8 mm INVENT'OR m T 5 June 14, 1938. E. T. FERNGREN 2,120,323 us'tnon or SHAPING SHEET MATERIAL Filed Jan. :1, 193a- 1o Shets-Sheet 1o INVENTOR" Patented June 14, 1938 PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF SHAPING SHEET Enoch '1. Ferngren, Toledo, Ohio, assignor, by

mesnc assignments. to Plax Corporation, Hartford, Conn.', a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1933, Serial No. 654,374

.lGClaims.

, This invention relates to improvements in methads of shaping sheet material such as cups, crimped parts and articles such as overall caps for milk bottles from plastic sheet films of cellulosic composition such as Cellophane and various types of more or less fragile and more or less extensible plastic tissues and other sheet materials of diiferent kinds, which may be manufactured from various dissimilar types of plastic or fibrous materials.

In providing such an article as a sanitary coverall milk bottle cap by the process herein shown, it is an object to provide the dairy industry and the consumer of bottled milk with a serviceable closure, which may readily be attached to a milk bottle by a heated clamping shoe, if the sheet material employed is such as tobe softened by heat. Also an crimped or pleated cap may be provided which is held in position around the beaded edge of a milk bottle by means of a suitably attached band, rubber snap, or wire, if the sheet material used in making the cap is such as to be unaifected by heat or by a plasticizing agent at time of capping. V

The method herein disclosed isnot confined to the making of the articles mentioned, but may be employed in all its essential details in the making of blanks for various kinds of paper cups and dishes or in the making of similar articles, particularly drinking cups from regenerated cellu lose or the like, the pleated blank formed being readily pressed into the finished article. Transparent drinking cup blanks produced by this process can have their edges reshaped or else bound by suitable fibrous or transparent plasticundertaldng unless special precautions are taken to impart a certain measure of rigidity (normally not present)- to such materials before attempting to cut out the required shapes. Also, most of these'transparent sheet materials are more or less sensitive to a condition of heat and moisture under the influence of which they become more tenuous or ductile in a reshaping sense. The method and means herein disclosed are partly directed towards the securing of practical results in. a fool proof way from regenerated cellulose and the like when reshaping such material into hollow objects to be used for various purposes.

In the reshaping by die-like forming means A of cellulose derivative sheet stock, whether said stock be produced from a cellulose-acetate, a nitro-cellulose coated sheet or of viscose, it is essential that simultaneous contact on opposite sides at the same point or zone of the sheet stock by opposite shaping members be avoided as far as possible. For best results the tissue material should be entirely out of contact with the impressing and reshaping members except along one side or face at any one instant, and then only at the extreme opposite points of the "cooperating shaping parts, so "that the tissue or sheet film section in contact on one of its sides with such parts will be free to readjust itself simultaneously in several directions until all of the material acted on is brought into'its final ultimatepositions with relation to the shaping members.

During the reshaping of such material it is at times desirable to have the forming members maintained at a relatively low temperature and then tointroduce steam between the sheet stock and forming member duringthe final free shaping of the cut blank, at least adjacent one of the article may then be carried in the other of the a forming members and thereafter discharged therefrom at a suitable point as will hereinafter be further described.

Many types of temperature treatment may be employed, for instance, the upper series of forming members herein shown may be maintained at a slightly higher temperature than the softening point temperature of the plastic sheet stock or other material which is being impressed, stressed or drawn by the die members, while at the same time the lower forming ,member or die may be maintained at a much lower temperature to prevent or regulate by relative heat absorption in the lower die members excessive thinning out where, the tissue material or sheet stock contacts with the projecting shaping parts of the lower die member.

In the practice of this process all types of colored pigments may be employed in the ma.-

- terial used to give suitable colorations to such material. The die members if heated may be given a coating of a fluent paraflin compound 1 also be employed. In this way many kinds of paper stock may be made fairly water-proof,

while otherwise being concurrently more easily reshaped into a desired form in the dies in the presence of a dry or a moist heated atmosphere. The finished article, of course, is cooled in the die directly it has attained its final shape and before it is ejected from either one of the die parts.

While in the illustrative embodiment to be described the die parts are used in the making of caps for milk bottles or nut cups and the like, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details shown and hereinafter described, as it is evident that blanks of almost any shape can be cut from fragile materials, according to the process herein disclosed, and that variations insubsequent shaping of suchblanks may be employed without departure from the present invention.

Square box-like articles may be formed and triangular, hexagonal and oblong, hollow articles may be produced merely by changes in'the form of the coasting die members and their relationships during the movements of these members from their point of engagement with the sheet material or tissue through the succeeding stages of their movements until the article is released or ejected from the die members of the upper or lower series of such members presently to be described. I

Many such articles may be reshaped into other forms by subsequent folding or pressing operations, or by the subsequent application of an external coating of a fluid plastic compound thereto, such as by dipping or spraying. Thus, relatively rigid light-weight containers may be ultimately produced. This last application of the process is valuable in the production of transparent film type articles, such as square cartons, first by shaping a transparent tissue into the required hollow form by means of apparatus as herein shown and then by dipping or sprayc'oating the articles so made to a desired thickness, thus building up laminated, two, three or four-ply structures, all of transparent cellulose derivative or other plastic materials. which may be made in accordance with the present inventionare disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 629,696, filed August 20, 1932. With regards to dipping liquids, it should be noted that it is not always necessary to employ solvents of the so called volatile character, as many plastics may be rendered fluent by heat,

even without plasticizers or other softening .tate with a suitable plasticizer or' solvents.

Many types of fibrous materials, of more or less tough sheet stock may, of course, be handled v in the machines ofthe kind herein disclosed and many useful articles thereby produced. It is not always essential when pressing such fibrous material that it be advanced along with or between a series of dies as an entire sheet, as preliminary blank forms may be cut out in one machine and partly formed therein and thereafter introduced into the pressing dies of a second machine.

Several machines having diflerently organized Articles die assemblies but otherwise organized and actuated in the same fashion as herein shown, with the exception of a complete blank cutting operation in the first unit, may be caused to operate tandem fashion on one continuously advancing members herein shown at the time of cutting of blanks and during the subsequent shaping thereof. By this expedient the certain kinds of sheet stock may be caused to enter and adhere and to draw and adjust themselves more readily to the cavity sectionsof the forming dies. This expedient of using variable air pressures is useful in the forming of many articles and drinking cup blanks on which the pleats can be flattened by coaction between a transfer element and the positive, shaping die.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated apparatus capable of performing the procass of my present invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view principally in vertical section through the die assemblies and related parts;

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary views principally in vertical section diagrammatically illustrating diflerent steps in the movements of the dies toward one another and showing the sheet material in the process of formation;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view principally in elevation showing the operation of a tractorytype or caterpillar pressing device;-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4; i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective and partly in vertical section of the end portion of a die-carrying cross bar or supporting member used in the upper chain of the caterpillar pressing device of Figs. 4 and 5;

' Fig. 7 is a side elevation with parts broken away and in vertical section of the entire forming machine indicating the location of the upper and lower forming dies at. diflerent points in their movements and while they are being heated or cooled;

Fig. 8 is, a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the relationship of the supporting parts to the pressing and forming elements;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the apparatus showing how the die assemblies are located and acted upon by the controlling cam parts, rails and driving means;

Fig. '10 is a fragmentary plan view of the cross arms or supporting members which carry the lower die assemblies, also illustrating the location of the device for injecting steam, vapor,air, etc., under variable pressure into the dies;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view principally in horizontal section through one of the arms of the injection device;

Fig.- 12 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the greases injection device, the section being taken on the series;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view with parts broken away and in horizontal section of one end portion of the transfer device;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail view of certain mechanism forming a part of the transfer device, the operation thereof being illustrated in dotted lines;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view principally in elevation and with parts broken away and in vertical section of a portion of the transfer device, showing how articles such as milk bottle caps may be stacked or nested in tubes;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary view in the vacuum and pressure tanks used for the machine, illustrating their relation to the transfer device;

Fig. 18 is a plan view with parts broken away and in horizontal section of the upper forming dies;

ferent ways in which blanks may be cut from advancing sheet material; r

Fig. 21'is an elevation of the receiving or entrance end of the upper and lower series of dies, their supporting parts and the drive transmission, several of the dies and other parts being broken away to reveal the ejector means operative on the upper die members, and the injection or suction device for the lower die members;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view principally in vertical section-of the cooperating parts of the upper and lower dies, illustrating the relation of the telescopic and resilient supporting means for an upper die member when it is depressed into a lower die member;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a heat absorbing blowing and refrigerating means used for chilling and imparting rigidty to sheet plastic material or for chilling the die members;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a formed milk bottle cap placed on a bottle; and

Figs. 25 and 26 are views in elevation and with a part of Fig. 25 broken away and in vertical section, illustrating different styles of caps, which may be formed from sheet material by the process of my invention.

The upper and lower die members I and 2 and I their associated parts as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 are positioned, ready for operation on paper, film, 'or plastic tissue stock 3, Fig. 4. These die parts, and forming, cutting, stretching, treating and pressing elements, which as actuated by the mechanisms of the machine proper are progressively adapted, first, to clamp down and hold the tissue; second, to stretch the tissue which is to be cut at the point where it is to be exposed to the cutting edge, or to draw the stock into shape in part or completely before cutting; third, to cut the sheet successively into blanks of predetermined shape; and fourth, to form' and draw each blank into the shape of the dies, if it is not previously drawn or shaped. The dies may be heated or cooled, oiled or parafiined, steamed or wetted, or used for chemical treatment. as conditions and the nature of the mate- I rial require, in any suitable way, externally or elevation of internally, one form herein shown being an electric heating means I, best shown in Figures 7 and 8. Anfplastic material or sheet stock which may in any manner be effected by heat or thereby rendered soft and pliant. or which may require the removal of moisture therefrom, may be employed. .Many materials within my invention are more readily conformed to the shape of the dies if hes is employed. some materials may be permanently set to the shape of dies only by means of heat. Sheet stock which must be wet in order to be shaped as herein set forth, may be speedily dried by the application of heat from the dies and thus have a permanent shape imparted thereto. Dry steam may also be, used and, of course, any cooling agencies. Suitable means may be used for applying pigments to the dies or paramn or other coatings to the materials as, may be required. 1 I

Each die I has a cover plate attached thereto by means of the screws 6, Figures 1 and 22. This plate I is provided with a central hub portion I, into which the lower threaded end 8 of a hollow shaft I is screwed. The 'hollow shaft 8 of each upper die assembly has a larger diameter rim edge ill at its upper end which normally overlaps and rests on a shoulder II of a. hollow shaft I2. A compression spring I 3, which surrounds the shaft 8, is instrumental in maintaining this relationship and extends between the upper face of the hub portion 1 of the plate 5 and the lower end of the shaft I2, this spring being further compressible to act as a shock absorber during the downward movement of the shaft I! to advance the die I into engagement with the lower die I.

The shaft I2 of the upper die member is slidable in an associated hollow guiding standard ll of a supporting member ii. The upper end of the shaft I2 is securely'joined to a hollow hub part It of a depressing member ll, Figs. 5 and 22. Compression springs I8, which are shown as surrounding several of the standards I4, Figs. 1. 5, 8 and 22, normally serve to support the member IT and all the upper die members in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, with the. upper face of the die plates 5 touching the lower face of the member IS, the springs I8, when compressed, permitting the dies 1 to be moved downwardly when the member I1 is acted upon by sufllcient. compressing force or is given a positive downward movement in the direction of the lower dies as shown in Fig. 9.

The upper dies I are thus yieldingly supportedfrom the member l5 and yieldingly connected to the depressing member II, the springs I3-serving to cushion the downward thrust of the shafts I2 and to modify the amount of compressive force used during the reshaping or the formative dwell of the die, members upon the material which is being shaped, see Figure 22.

Each upper die I has associated therewith a cylindrical cutting knife I9, which is vertically adjustable relative to the die by. a threaded connection 20, so that the sheet material may be cut into blanks at the proper instant, before or after the lower end or the lowermost portion of the upper die contacts with or bears down against the material. It is essential thatthe cutting action of the knife I!) be adjustable to suit different materials or their conditions of rigidity, tendency to tear, yieldability and flexibilty. For instance a relatively fragile, soft or extensible sheet tissue such as regenerated cellulose or the like must be impressed, tensioned or stretched taut before it is cut. This is accom- 1 piished by first engaging the tissue or sheet stock between the die members as shown in Figure 2.

before it is cut or engaged by the cutting knife, after which the knife is may cut through the stock 3, or co-act with a cooperating shearing surface or edge 45 cleanly to cut the sheet, film or strictly a part thereof, as it ls largely independent of any movements given to the die proper. However, this sheet holding clamp isactuated from any pressure applied from the members l in a downward direction, whichpssists in clamping the tissue. The clamp member 2l'is nor- .mally mounted upon the lower face of the member l5, by means of screws 22, Fig. 18, but may also have an individual vertically movable support and is so adjusted with relation to a cooperatingclamp member 23 of the lower die that in the dies.

when the dies are brought opposite one another, the sheet stock will be instantly held by com.- presslble elastic rubber .facings 25 and 25, by means of which a cushion is formed at the edges 21 and 28, of the clamp parts. v

The lower clamping member 23 has a V-shaped annular recess in its upper edge 28 into which the tapered portion of the upper edge or rubber part 25 will fit when the die assemblies are brought into closely fitting contact.

The upper die part I has an inner space.28, Fig. 1, which communicates with a passage 30 within the tube ill and the hollow shaft l2. This passage acts as a conduit for air or other fluid, gases or liquid under suitable pressure and temperature, to be used if the sheet material callsfor a specific treatment during the shaping operation As herein shown these passages are used for delivering air under pressure into the molding cavity of the upper die member to effect delivery of the shaped, article or to eject or free the article prior to delivery or to confine the article to either the upper or the lower die with which a similarly arranged delivery device may cooperate at any suitable point. The lower die members may function to deliver any type of article which is press-formedin the device, in which case air under pressure is communicated to all the dies which are mounted on the same cross arm or member l5 at suitable points in the path of the, lower dies after the upper dies are withdrawn from contact therewith.

The air 'or fluid admitted to the enclosed space.

29 within each upper die is released or forced out through two series of small orifices 3i and 32 arranged at suitable points in the walls 33 and 34 of the die I, when direct treatment by fluid contact or pressure or action on sheet stock by gases or other media is desirable. Another purpose of these orifices, in the die is to admit air under pressure between the exposed forming face of die and the inner surface of the flat sheet material that has been shaped therein, the air being admitted at time of ejection. or delivery of a completed article from the forming member i, especially when a transfer device is employed, see Figure13, or as otherwise may be the case,

directly to a receiving'tubeya capping device, or

onto the neck of a bottle. v

With reference to the direct delivery of a milk bottle cap orany other cap to a bottle neck, no transfer device Will be needed if the arrangehorizontal path for a short distance. This provides clearance space for free downward election of the caps or articles from the lower dies and their-retention by the upper dies as the lower dies are being inverted to start on their return travel to meet the upper dies.

The die 2 has a hollow interior space 35,'Flg.'1,

. communicating with an enclosed space 35. Figs.

1 and9, of a lower'supporting member 31. When air or other fluid under pressure is admitted to the spaces 35 and 35, it will pass throughtwo series of orifices 38 and 39 to the outside of the wall 40 of the lower die 2 and will disengage the formed sheet stock therefrom. These conduits may also serve to admit water, steam, solvent, vapor, parailin or gases for chemical or other treatment, of the articles.

A raised hub 4| of the supporting member 31 has an inner threaded face 42, Fig.- 1, for holding the threaded shank 43 of the die 2. This hub also has an outer threaded wall portion 44 for adjustably holding the lower clamping member 23 in a desired position relative to the upper clamping member 2| to insure that the sheet stock will be securely grippedin the V-shaped groove between the rubber coated edge parts 25 and 25 when the respective die assemblies are caused to approach each other.

rubber coating,- so that this edge may coact with the knife ill to cut out the blanks from the sheet stock. The members l5 are shaped to afford clearance spaces 5| near their outer ends.for'the reception of rollers 48, which are mounted in bearings 49 at the outer ends of the depressing member i I.

The rollers 48, of which one is provided at each end of the member H, are advanced into contact with fixed cam rails 50 during the engagement period of the dies I and 2. The rails 5|) are so shaped that the rollers 48 at the spring-supported opposite ends of the member I1, will to gether with that member be depressed or moved a like distance toward'the member [5, the clearance spaces 5| at the opposite ends of the member i5 permitting this displacing movement, Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive.

The cam rails 50, of which two are provided, function to depress ,the opposite ends of the depressing members [1' an equal distance vertically, while these members are carried onward by the supporting members I5, which are moved horizontally at this particular time.

and the upper die assemblies are actuated by the depressingaction of the rails 50 on the members I! to tension, cut and shape the sheet material.

All the members ii are pivotally connected at their opposite or outer ends, at two points, by means of link-shaped portions 52 of the members and pins 53, each link being connected to the succeeding and following link of the adjacent members IE to form an endless chain of these members. Each of the pins 53 also functions to support a roller 54 at its outer end adjacent to the outside face of each link 52, the rollers being held to the pins by means pf heads or flanges thereon. As shown in the diagrammatic layout, Fig. 4, the respective links 52 at the ends of the members l5 of the upper series of dies form a continuous link chain belt, which is advanced by During this 'operatlon, the springs l8 and [3 are compressedv means oi sprocket wheels 99 and 99, the arrange- 1116i being duplicated at the opposite ends of the members 19. In this way, a rigid reliable constructionis provided that permits of a continuous movement of all the die parts without any shifting or weaving.

'ihe hollow supporting members 91 for the lower die members are provided with links 91 connected by pins 69, each of which carries a roller 99. The distance between pivot points for the members 31 of the lower link assembly is the same as that of the upper link assembly, so that the lower dies 2 will be brought successively into registry with the upperdies I along their cooperative faces and edge parts. The lower link assembly is mounted for movement about sprocket wheels 19 and 18.

Machines of this type may have any suitable number of links. The number of die-carrying upper and lower members I! and 31, which are in minimum number in order to bring out the details of construction in proper scale and as clearly as possible. The number of die-carrying.

' members simultaneously acted upon by the cam rails 99 during the horizontal run of engagement of the cooperating dies I and 2 is preferably not less than ,ilve, this, of course, increasing the length of the respective chain drives. The addition of a larger numberof supporting members and the additional dies thereon in no way impairs or hinders the operation of the various mechanisms of the device.

The sprocket wheels 66 and 14 arecarried by hollow shafts 89 and 11 respectively, which are rotatable in bearings 93 and 94, these bearings being respectively supported from frame 66 of the machine by the provision of projecting arms or brackets 99.

The shaft 69 is rotated by means of a worm wheel 61 that is driven by a worm 99, the worm 99 being mounted on a vertical shaft 69, which is driven by a suitable source of power shown as comprising a motor 19, a speed reducing means 1I and a gear train including bevel gears 12 and 13; The arrangement is such that the same speed is imparted in the opposite direction to the sprocket wheels 14 of the lower die assembly chain drive by means of a worm 15 on the shaft 69 and a .worm wheel 18, which is mounted on the outer end of the shaft 11 of the lower chain drive. v

The opposite sprocket wheels 19, which engage the rollers 59 of the lower die assembly are normally idlers and are driven 'by the motion of the links 61. The same is true of the sprocket wheels 99 of the upper die assembly which are normally rotated by'the movement of the links :12

A stationary pipe 6|, Figs. 4, '7 and 9, is surrounded by a cylindrical casing 19, to the opposite ends of which the sprocket wheels 56 are secured, the casing 19 being supported by and rotatable in bearings 63*. The casing 19. carries nozzles 99, Figs. 9 and 21, which are'adapt'ed to register withthe upper ends of the hollow shafts I 2 oi. the upper die assemblies, as shown in Fig. 9. As the hollow shafts I 2 are moved around the pipe .II by the sprocket wheels 66, each nozzle 89 is brought into registry with an opening II in the pipe II from which it receives a discharge of compressed air. This air is transmitted from the Pine 6|, through the nozzle 99 and, the passage- 30. Fig. 1, into the space 29 of the upper die I and thence through the passages or perforations 3| and 32 to the outside face of the die, with the eifect of immediately dislodglng the shaped material therefrom. This dislodged material is then received by a suction head of a transfer mechanism, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The hollow supporting members 31, which sustain the greater percentage of the downward pressure of the upper die members I against the corresponding lower die members 2 during the association of the rollers 99 with the cam rails 99, would under certain conditions of length and if supporting a large number of dies, be inclined to bend downwardly intermediatetheir supported ends. To overcome this difliculty, all the arms 31 are also supported centrally by means of parallel continuous ball races 92, Figs. 8 and 9, that are located'centrally within the lower chain drive circuit and supported by means of cross bars 93. The cross bars 93 are held to the webs 96 of the main supporting frame 95 by means of brackets 84 and bolts96, Fig. 8.

Each ball race 92 is formed in two separate parts 91 and 99, into which grooves have been cut, as shown in Figs. 8 and 21. The lower side of each arm 31 is provided with a suitable recess or groove 9|, the contact faces of which advance the balls 99 in the races 92. The parts 91 and 99 are suitably received in socket portions of the cross bars 83 and may be secured in position by bolts as shown best in Fig. 8. w

The hollow supporting members 31 receive a supply of compressed air from a series of nozzles 93, Figs. 8, 10, 11, 12 and 21, which are successively in continuous engagement with receiving openings 94 located in the lowerfaces of the hollow supporting members 31 and beneath the cam rails 59 andwhere the upper die members are still in engagement with the lower ones. The object is to create a sufllcient pressure between the sheet material and the outer faces of the lower die members, so that a pressed object will normally be released from the lower die the instant the associated upper die is elevated by the action of the springs I9. The air admitted under pressure from the space 36 into the separate space of each lower die member 2 then flows outwardly through the perforations 98 and 39, thus positively preventing adhesion of the sheet material to the lower die or the creation of a vacuum therebetween and thus positively causing the sheet article to be retained by the upper die at the instant of separation thereof from the lower die.

As best shown in Figs. 8, 10, 11 and 12, the nozzles 93 are carried by arms 95, which are extensions from a central slip-over hood 96. The hood 96 is rotatably mounted on a hollow standard 91 by means of a depending pin portion 98 of the hood 96, which passes through a hole I00 in the upper wall of the standard 91 and by which the hood part is mounted for rotation about the standard while being held thereto by a nut 99 threaded on the pin 98 andseparated from the upper wall of the standard 91 by a washer Illl.

The hollow standard 91 is mounted in a U-shaped hearing I 92 having hubs I93 and flanges I94, the latter of which are secured to the cross bar 93 by bolts I96. The standard 91 is provided with a shaft I96 at its lower end, which is compression spring I00. extending between one tion, while the supporting members 31 cause a arm of'the bearing I02 and the standard 01. The

' parts are shown in Fig. 12 in the position they occupy when one of the nozzles 93 is going into or out of engagement with an opening 0430f a supporting member 31.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 21, one of the nozzles 93 is in position to engage an opening 04 while another nozzle is just going out of engagement with another opening 94 of an adjacent supporting member-31, these members being continuously moved. During each engaging period of the tapered engaging portion I01 of the nozzle 93 with the opening 94, the standard 01 is caused to reciprocate in a horizontal. plane, the shaft I05 serving to retain the standard 01 in a rigid upright position, while a reciprocating motion is imparted thereto in the bearing I02. The spring I08 quickly moves the member 01 in one direcmovement thereof in the opposite direction against the spring as the nozzle is moved by the arms 31 in Fig. 10.

Each nozzle 93 has a freely rotatable head portion I I suitably secured to a vertically reciprocable portion III, which is provided with a flange member II2 atits lower end. The flange member 2 serves as a retainer for a ball II3. A

compression spring ll l' extending between the flange member H2 and the ring-shaped end of the arm 95 normally keeps the nozzle body portions III and H0 in their lower positions; while the cam groove in plate H functions to raise the nozzle body portions IIO, III and H2 at a predetermined point to align and thrust the tapered end I01 thereof into the tapered. opening 9 of the member 31. At this time a laterally open chamber H6 in the nozzle portion III is in alignment with a passage I ll of the arm 95, which then moves into alignment with a lateral opening 9 of a space or bore H8 or the standard 31, the movement being progressive and soarranged that the full registration of the openings in these parts will occur slightly before the shaft l2 of each upper die assembly is elevated by the expansion of'the springs I8.

At the time of such registration, compressed air flows from the space lIB-through the passage Ill and thence upwardly into the space 36 of the supporting member 31 by way of a passage I20 in the head of the nozzle.

Compressed air may be conducted tothe member 91 through a pipe I2I and a flexible hose I22, Fig. 12, but may also be admitted from a flexible hose I23 through a side coupling I20, asshown in Fig. 8. By this injection device, of which two separate sets should be used, one at-each end of the supporting members 31, a pressure considerably above atmospheric may be established inside the space 35 of each lower'die 2 for the release of a formed vobject therefrom. This mechanism may also be used for supplying steam, water or other fluids for treatment of sheet stock. When so employed, two separate cooperating devices are located to operate on the dies as the sheet material is being cut into blanks. As each a straight line along the groove I09,

forcing the'head III of the nozzle 03 out of the opening 94 of the supporting member 31, alter which the arm 05 carrying the nozzle just discussed proceeds on its rotational journeyaround the standard 01.

The parts are sov proportioned thatthis release of the nozzle occurs as the next succeeding nozzle head 0 enters the opening 04 of the next succeeding supporting member--31. The location of each air pressure distributing device should be at the sides of the ball races 02 and at that end of the lower die circuit where the dies I and 2 are directly below those parts of the pressure rails 50 where the downwardpressureimparted by said rails to the upper dies is nearly completed, so

that ample compression will be established in the spaces 35 and along all the lower die faces 40 before the upper dies are permitted to recede upwardly therefrom by the upward slope of the pressure rails 00.

All the die-carrying supporting members l5 are supported during their horizontal runs by.

upper rails I 25 and lower rails I26;

The lower die-supporting members 31 are likewise supported by rails I21 and I23, so that all the dies of the upper and lower series may register without any deviation as they are brought together and simultaneously advanced in the same direction.

The lower rails I26 for the upper series of dies should be so shaped along their upper edges as to cause a slight closing in toward one another of the clamping members 2| and 23. The rails I2I for thelower series of dies may likewise have a slight upward curve to cause an intimate relationship of the sheet-gripping parts 25 and 26 prior to the downward thrust on the rollers 48 of the depressing members H by the rails 50. The rails 50, when exerting their downward pressure on the depressing members I1 and the springs I8, thus also function within limits to cause the clamping parts 2| and 23 to approach each other All the rail parts maybe adjusted vertically by suitablemeans comprising screws I29 and I30. 'Other expedients, such as wedges, may be used in the adjustment of the rails in respect to their supporting arms I3I, I32, I33 and .In operation, a sheet of suitable material ,is

supplied in the form of a roll I36, Fig. 4, from which the sheet is fed onwardly between the upper and lower series of clamps 2I and 23, which engage the sheet as they approach one another and by which means the sheet is advanced in the direction in which the series of dies l and 2 are being'mcved.

As the assembled means for acting upon the sheet stock, Fig. 1, are being moved horizontally .with the sheet material 3, the coacting die members operate to stretch, impress, tension and shape the clamped .sections of the sheet, while the knives l9 out out blank sections l3'l'from the sheet stock. These sections 131, because of the action thereon of the die members I and 2, have become definitely aligned with the projecting porr v s ,1ao,sae

tionsoftbedieasothatwhentheyare cutfree,

ank portionor section will partly shaped position relative to the dies I for subsequent operations.

Inthecaseofmilkbottlecaps,thecut-out blanks I81 are circular, as indicated in Figs. 19

"and 20, and the successive series of devices with M blank cutting knives may be so located that the perforations through the sheet will occur in alignment, as shown in Fig. 19, or in staggered relation to one another,'as shown in Fig. 20. The latter method is more economical since a greater number of caps may be produced peryard of material consumed. To accomplish this, the diecarrying supporting members II. and "are made narrower so that the respectiveclamping parts may be brought closer together and arranged in staggered relation to one another.

Rolls I38 and lit act to direct the fiat sheet stock I into its horizontal run, Figure 4, and assist in keeping the sheet material in a taut conditlon, considered as a whole, pending and during the action thereon of the dies. After the sheet stock has been acted on by the respective knives II in the forming means, the perforated skeleton of the sheet is wound up on a take-up spool Ill. This member is preferably driven by means of a slip-friction clutch in. a synchronized fashion with respect to the constantly growing diameter of the spool and at a peripheral speed equal to the lineal speed of the sheet.

In order to maintain this condition the actual speed of rotation of the winding spool I" is gradually reduced as the roll of sheet stock thereon increases in diameter. Details of this mechanism are not shown as they are not considered as being a part of this invention and any well known slip clutch drive may be used.

The actual performance of the dies I and 2 'on the sheet stock is partly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown in Fig. 2, the first forming action on the sheet stock occurs as the blank section It? held between the parts 2| and 23 is exposed to the downward thrust of the wall portion 34 of the die I on one side thereof, while the opposite side of the blank encounters the rigid resistance of an annular'surface portion I of the die member 2, both of these material-contact die portions being pushed in opposite directions before the blank section is out free from the sheet by the action of the knife l8.

If the sheet material possesses a fair degree of plastic extensibility, the knife is maybe properly located about as shown in Figure 3. n theother hand, if the sheet tissue should be of relatively rigid material the position of knife It should be as indicated in Figure 2. Many materials can be considerably softened by the application of steam, in which case the die member 2 should be kept at'a relatively low temperature prior to the ejection of steamfrom the small orifices 38 and 38 thereof, which will then cause a condensation of vapor on the lower side of the blank I31 and on the exterior surface ill of the die. This moisture will be quickly absorbed by cellulosic or other types of more or less porous or absorptive materials with the result that varying degrees of wilting occurs, which. renders such materials quite pliable to reshaping with some degree of stretching. If the upper die member I is maintained at a suitable elevated temperature relative to the material to be acted upon, a permanent set may be given even to very rigid fibrous stock.

If the material to be actedupon in the dies is of the rigid kind, the blank may be cut immediately the clamping action has taken place, in which case the knife I! should be located as shown in Figure 1. Also steam may be imme diately released from the orifices II and II to assist in producing a pliable condition in an material.

Stretching ofthe sheet blank III, as shown in Figure 2, is useful when cutting-blanks from such materials known commercially as "Cellophane, "Kodapak", also gelatine or casein base tissues or wrapping materials, the stretching of .the sheet blank close to the clamping point enabling clean cutting without tearing.

In Fig. 3, there isshown two progressive stages during the final shaping of the blank after it has been severed from the sheet, the left hand portion of the figure showing the relation of the rigid surfaces of the die members and indicating how the material is drawn or is being moved by the projecting spaced die surface portions II and I just before the upper die has reached its final position relative to the lower die. The right hand portion of Fig. 3 shows the final relationship of the dies when the operation is brought to a stop under the resilient pressure action.

Many sheet materials are quite fragile in handling, particularly when being reshaped under such forming operations as would require a thinning out of the body of the sheet material. To avoid any possibility of rupture and of tearing during the shaping of such materials according to thepresent process, the die .parts are so related to one another that the sheet blank will have contact on only one face thereof with a rigid surface of the die members at any one point acted upon by said members, for which reason a clearance space is provided between such-surfaces as Ill of the upper die'and I42 of the lower die.

Such spacing is provided at all points where interentrant parts of opposite cooperating dies are caused to operate in opposite directions on the sheet material, the result being that the material is free to adjust itself in several directions at the same time while it is being stretched, extended in body, or bodily moved into final position as determined by the most prominent projecting portions of the dies. As indicated in Figure 2, while the projecting portions I and I, are moving a portion of the tissue in the clear ance space provided between the side faces ill and I42, the contact of the rigid points, on the opposite sides of the tissue, are spaced apart and each is active on one side only of the sheet stock,

which thus has a chance to stretch and to adjust itself without being ruptured or structurally weakened. In this connection, a temporary inlation, so that the sheet stock is practically drawn into pleats by the movement in opposite directions thereagainst of the outer solid surface portions of the teeth of the dies, the sheet material being free in the spaces between the projecting portions until the dies are in final position. At that time contact preferably should occur along the more extended surface portions of the dies, as for instance, between surface 33 of the upper die and the face ill of the lower die, the

tissue or sheet stock portion 5 being practicaily freely suspended as between points 3 and I.

This space allowance between the forming means, not only allows freedom to the material so that it can not be .pinched between co-active shaping parts, but also permits the handling of two or more layers or thicknesses of sheet mate'rial during the entire operation of blanking out,

shaping and also of other treating. Thus for instance, a thin sheet of casein or agelatin composition may be run through the machine in the same manner as a sheet of Cellophane.

When transparent sheet materials of the kind mentioned in the precedingparagraph are simultaneously advanced from several sources or from different spools and brought between the upper' cohesive body as the forming is-completed under slight pressure of the opposite die elements.

Layers or sheets of nitro-cellulose, cellulose acetate; benzyl cellulose or other water-proof sheet materials may be operated upon, if in the.

manufacture of suchsheets suflicient plasticizing agents or gummy materials are incorporated with quick transfer of the the cellulose plastic materials. Such sheet materials may then be rendered soft or adhesive by heating or by exposure to solvent vapors during the shaping action. Layers of such sheet materials may likewise be laminated, but preferablyin such an operation, the formingto'ols ordies should normally be at a lower temperature than the material, and by contrast the atmosphere or air used or injected into the dies should be dry and heated, independent of and with or without any softening solvent vapor component in such air or atmosphere..

Heated dies or molds .are suflicient for the reshaping of many kinds of wetted or dry sheet material, but at the time of separation from the dies of sheet stock formed therein the removal of the finished articles is facilitated by the use of compressed air which has been cooled before it is used. 5 The arrangement shown in Figs. 13 and 16 illustrate howcompressed air is used to eject a shaped cap I46 from the die I, while vacuum action is. operative or caused to be operative through a receiving head I41, to effect a pressed article from the die.

The principal utility of the transfer device shown in Figs. 13 to 17 is to .remove and carry light weight, fragile tissue or film objects from the dies 'I to a position where they are nested or packed automatically into containers or tubes I49. These objects canbe-delivered, nested and packed in open form without distorting their shape.

The transfer device generally indicated at I48 comprises a series of tubular radially movable arms I50, the'inner ends I5I of which are slidably mounted in a plurality of successive series of radial bores or hollow hub extensions I52, which are arranged lengthwise of a revoluble .casing I53. The casing I53 is arranged to be revolved around a stationary two-compartment air conducting member I54 by means of a shaft extension I55,

mounted in bearings I56, onlyone of which is shaped connecting bar I51. Each of these bars I51, of which sixare shown, is slidably supported at its outer housing-shaped ends I 50, Fig. 14, in

guides I59, so that all the arms I50 of a series may be simultaneously-moved outwardlyor in-.

wardly in the radial hub extensions I52. 'The rollers I60, of which one is provided at each housing end I58 of the bars I51, act to move the bars 7 Each bar I51 carries hinged thereto a bracket structure I65, to which is secured a seriesof receiving heads I41. Each head I41 is connected to the outer end of the tubular arms I50 by means of a nipple I66 and a rubber sleeve I61,-thus providing a flexible hollow joint between each head I41 and the associated tubular arm I50. The head I41 may, therefore, be tilted at an angle when going into registry with the continuously advancing die I of the upper series of dies when removing or receiving a formed object therefrom.

The tilting operation of a series of the heads I41 is accomplished in unison by means of two crank members I68, which are secured to and rigid with the bracket'I65 adjacent to the hinge points I69 thereof at the ends of the bracket. Rollers I10 at the outer ends of the cranks I66 come into periodic engagement with cam tracks I1 I one of which is arranged at each end of the a and the series of heads I41 associated therewith,

the roller I60 of. the associated bar I51 is advanced by the rotation of the casing I53 to a point beyond the limit of the rail I64, thus permitting the expansion of the springs I6I. These springs, when thusreleased from confinement, will thrust the channel bars I51 outwardly, thereby causing the ends I58 thereof to move radially outwardly along the guides I59 and also moving the tubes I50 and the heads I41 radially outwardly relative to the casing I53.

The actual registrative approach of heads I41 to the dies I may be considered as having several. components of motion, as during the tilting ofthe bracket I by the combined operation of the cranks I68, the rollers I10 and the cams I1 I, the springs I6I are slightly extended, thus providing a combined rotational and radial motion for the heads I41. 7

At this instant in the continuous movement of the die-carrying link belt and the rotary transfer device, when the alignment of the heads I41 of the dies I is as shown in Fig. 13,-suctlon is applied from compartment I12 in the member I54 through a passage I13 and ducts I14. At this time, a port opening I15 of the air conducting member I54 is in full registry with the hollow hub extension I52, thus causing an immediate adherence of a completed cap I46 to a receiving form I16 forming'part of the head I41.

As this is being accomplished, the rollers IE0 at the outer faces I11, Fig. '14, of the housing ends I58 of the bar I51 are brought into contact with the faces I18 01 movable cam rail parts I18,

. of the member I as the casing I53 movesthe which are hinged at points I33 to the cam/rails I. While the parts are thus positioned, the movable cam parts In are moved radially inwardly or' in a direction toward the casing I53 by rotary cam' members Iii. The movement ofcachrotary member III is relatively rapid with the result thatthe bar I 51, the tube Iill and the receiving head I" are immediately moved inwardly toward the casing I53. Thus, the head I" is almost instantly removed from the proximity of the die member I, so that clearance will be provided between the coacting parts as they proceed on their rotational paths.

During the rotation of the several arms and heads I" from their receiving position to the opening of the hub extension past the orificial outlet thereof. At this time compressed, air passes through the tube I50 and ducts I'll, thereby releasing and forcibly urging the cap downwardly into the-receiving tube I49. Because of this form of delivery of the cap I43 from the head I", the cap will retain itself in a horizontal position while moving vertically downwardly against the air column in the tube I49 until it settles into the preceding cap within the tube.

The movements of all the mechanisms connected with each series of heads I" will be alike at all points of operation.v A tank I36 serves as a container for compressed air, while a tank I" is connected with a suitable air exhausting apparatus. A conduit I33 forms a suction passage for the air withdrawn through the heads Ill. A pipe I33 is connected to the conduit I for the delivery of compressed air thereto.

Each rotary cam Ill is actuated by a pinion III, which is drlvenby a gear I3I. Each gear Ill is keyed to the shaft I", as'shown at I32, and is rotated at the same speed as the casing III, the relation being such that'the cams III will accurately operate at the required instant to move the associated cam members l ls'against the rollers I". r

If the article formed should be a paraihned blank for a drinking cup with pleated side walls, and it should be desired to deliver the article with all the pleats flattened out to provide a uniform, substantially cylindrical body, the die I should preferably 'consist of a plunger having a' shape like an inverted truncated cone with a smooth exterior, or at least without projecting ridges which should be classified as such. v

The die 2 for ,such an operation should consist of adownwardly tapered cavity having a series oi side wall corrugations or ridges to form the pleats. In such a case with heated and paraillned or otherwise coated dies, vacuum should be employed along the deepest recesses or reentrant spaces between the corrugations or ridges in the die 2 at the instant of cutting the blank to draw and distribute the sheet blank of paper or of transparent plastic material into the side cavities between the ridges of the die 2, whfle the plunger the die I moves the blank body as a whole along its center portion to the full depth of the main center cavity in the',die 2.

In order to provide an eflective vacuum action, 4

the pipe I22, Fig. 12, should be connected to the vacuum tank I31, by which expedient the air can be evacuated from. the spaces 3| of the lower molding elements. or dies 2 and from the space 36 within the supporting member 31. Themecedure is that the successive nomles' 33 are caused to .register, with the openings 9| of successive -cross arms or supporting members 31 for the withdrawal of air from the spaces 33 through the passages, I20 and Ill. the creation of a positive pressure on the upper side of the tissue or sheet blank as it is being cut from the sheet body because of the rapid evacuation of air from the cavities of the die 2 through the orifices or passages 33 and 33. This will cause the sheet material of the cut blank closely to follow and dip into, the cavities of the die 2 as the air pressure within such cavities is reduced due to the suction action from This will result in the chambers 35 and 36, the passages I20 and Ill and the conduit I22. At the same time the die I is acting mechanically to form the'center portion of the blank, which forms the normally raised bottom portion of a drinking cup.

When a drinking cup blank, thusformed, is released from the die 2 or the lower forming memberand caused to follow the upper pressing element by means of the application of air pressure between the exterior surfaces of the lower mold member and the sheet stock, the paraflln absorbed by the paper material along the folds has a tendency to set due to the chilling action of the air which is now injected to the mold cavities by a second set of injection devices as above set forth.

As the blank is blown against the upper forming member and thus lifted out of the lower one as the cooperating forming means or dies separate, the pleats on the blank body are read ily flattened down on the projecting portion of the upper forming member. The receiving cavity portion of the transfer head ll'lcorresponds generally to the .exterior shape of the upper die member. As the cavity in the member I" is advanced closely to surround the projecting section of the article or such section is brought forward to meet and engage the cylindrical cavity in the head I", the pleats will progressively flattendown and retain such shape particularly if cold air under pressure is then caused to force the cup blank away from the upper forming member or die at the instant vacuum is employed through the transfer head I". An almost completely finished drinking cup body or hollow substantially cylindrical vessel can thus be formed, which is'then ejected and nested as heretofore described.

It should be noted that the cylindrical wall portion I93 of the transfer head I" has a rubber coated edge I94 to efiect good sealing contact without marring the surface finish of the die I. 1

With regards to the size of the sprockets shown, it is normally preferable to use larger diameter sprocket wheels, so as thereby to promote a smoothness in thecontinuous motion of the links.

The invention in its narrower aspects, as concerned with the making of articles from fiat sheet materials, deals with procedures of handling, treating and shaping sheet products of diil'erent body structure, but of relatively firm makeup,

are normally only slightly extensible.

Aside from the advantages which the inven- I tion has when dealing with paper, regenerated changed in their nature while being operated upon in dies or molding elements in order to provide an easier shaping or flowing quality. If they do have the necessary viscosity and extensibility, for example, if they are natural or synthetic thermo-setting gums or condensation products they may be cured,.vulcanized or otherwise treated to effect desired chemical reactions in order to give proper rigidityjfiexibility, density and other qualities or properties to the final article.

Dishes and the like may of course be readily formed from paper without any pleating of the brim or side walls. When pressing paper dishes both the upper and lower series of forming means or dies should normally be heated, and the paper stock sprayed with a suitable quantity of water just before it is clamped and perforated. The pressing or shaping operation may occur at the same time or thereafter, but the form-setting period of the dies should continue for a ,time sufficient to expel the greater; percentage "of the water from the shaped paper stock. At

which are held between opposite walls of the molding elements and which portions are so located as to be out of direct'contact with the walls of either the upper or the lower dies.

With relation to thermo-setting materials, many different shapes of smooth-surfaced translucent and/or colored dishes, cups and the like may also be formed from nearly pure sheeted rubber gum compounds. In such a case refrigerating elements may be located relatively close to one or both sides of the plastic rubber sheet to give it a temporary condition of hardness as the to further heating, vulcanization will proceed and the material will attain 'the required degree of rigidity while retained between the dies.

Addition of, fillers,-such as different fibres and many other materials will make for great econ .omy in the use of rubber as is well known in the art.

With reference to the clamping means 2! and 23, the resilient clamping edges or rubber coating on said edges should be eliminatedin all operations where the heating would destroy the re- 9,120,321: or such fibrous or plastic sheet materials, which siliency thereof and when operating on sheet material which would have a tendency to adhere to the rubber.

When operating with sheet materials of the thermo-setting type, which require a long period of heating to impart the required degrees of hardness, the number of successive die carrying arms should be considerablyincreased,toprovidealonger period of association between the dies along the activehorlzontal run and thus a longer period of pressure and heat penetration through the material. In this connection, treating agents such as heated gas, steam or air under pressure and either hot or cold can be used to advantage on many kinds of materials which are cured while exposed to elevated temperatures and pressures. For' such operation,-several consecutive injection devices of the type shown in Figs. 10 to 12 may be caused to operate successively on the same die of the lower series during its horizontal run.

In regard to the making of hollow articles from raw rubber sheeting or the like, extruded or calendered, unless such sheeting has been partly vulcanized before use and thus changed in' its nature, the invention consists of the herein described treatment and the maintenance of a continuing pressure while the article is being carried through a'heated zone and forward to the point of delivery, where it is ejected by means of'low temperature air under pressure and removed from the pressing die by means of a transfer device where suction is employed, and from which it is nested in any suitable fashiom'not necessarilyincluding the step of a positive discharge from the transfer means by the use of compressed air, unless the article be of a very light weight.

compounded rubber sheeting, whether provided with fabric reinforcement or not, and which has been partly vulcanized has a certain degree of elasticity and firmness, and will not normally require the use of a cooling device such as here tofore described. Also such compounds as contain large percentages of other materials, besides the gum binders, are directly benefited by the method steps herein disclosed.

The refrigerating device, Figure 23, comprises I a rotary pump I95 for advancing a cooling medium through a series of connected pipes ortubular system I96, which are confined inside a casing I99. In order to make this lower temperature condition more directly effective on the sheet material or on the dies of the pressing device, air

is admitted into an auxiliary chamber through conduits 200. This air is then caused to pass downwardly through small perforations I58 in the casing I99 and to come in contact or into close proximity with the pipes ISG Heat is quickly removed from the .air, so that by the time this air reaches the sheet material or thedies, it will function most effectively to establish the lower temperature required.

The milk bottle cap, or cup form shown in Figwe 25, has a relatively long skirted portion 20!, and a relatively large downwardly-pressed center section 202, the purpose of which is to set fairly well down into the mouth of a milk bottle, so that 

